Device for mounting wall plates

ABSTRACT

An assembly for mounting a plate upon a support structure, comprises a first anchor member formed on said support structure; a second anchor member formed on the plate; and adjustable suspension means interconnecting said anchor members, the adjustable suspension means including a bolt connected with one of the anchor members and deflectible relative thereto. A hookforming element of U-shaped adjustably receives the bolt and has a pair of shanks formed with hooks engaging the other of the members, and a nut threaded onto said bolt and bearing upon the hooking-forming element.

8 United States Patent 1 1 3,760,542 Haeussler Sept. 25, 1973 DEVICE FORMOUNTING WALL PLATES v [76] Inventor: Ernst Haeussler, Grashofstr. 47,Primary Exammergpnce EssemBredeney, Germany Attorneyl(arl F. oss

22 Filed: on. 26, 1971 57 ABSTRACT [2l] Appl. No.: 192,474 1 An assemblyfor mounting a plate upon a support strucr ture, comprises a firstanchor member formed on said [30] Forelgn Apphcanon Pnonty Data supportstructure; a second anchor member formed on Oct. 24, 1970 Germany P 2052 338.0 the plate; and adjustable Suspension means intercom Mar. 31,1971 Germany P 21 15 672.9 fleeting said anchor members, the adjustableSuspen sion means including a bolt connected with one of the [52] US. Cl52/235, 52/378, 52/486 anchor members and d fl ctibl relative theretu A[5 l 1 E04) 2/88 hook-forming element of U-shaped adjustably receives[58] Field of Search 52/235, 565, 562, the bolt and has a pair of Shanksf d with hooks 52/486 125, 484 gaging the other of the members, and anut threaded onto said bolt and bearing upon the hooking-forming [56]References Cited element FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 0 1,903,1967/1970 Germany 52/235 13 6 Draw F'gures Hlllllllllllmmil PMENIEUSEPZSIHHSHEEI '4 0f 5 FBG.4

FIG.5

1 DEVICE FOR MOUNTING WALL PLATES FIELD OF THE INVENTION BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION In modern building construction it has become a commonpractice to form the building facing or facade from a plurality offacade-forming plates or slabs having the desired aesthetic characterand appearance and providing a protective shell or face along a wall ofthe structure. It is not uncommon to use, for this purpose, sandwich orlaminated panels of concrete or other mineral material, complete withinsulating layers, or simple slabs of concrete, stone or the like. Theouter face of the slab may be prefinished, eg by grinding or polishing,or provided with a desirable texture of color during casting of the slabor by subsequent rooling, carving or sandblasting. Typical slabs of thistype or concrete slabs formed from a mix containing large-sizeaggregates and sandblasted to expose the aggregate particles and therebyprovide a pleasing texture and coloration.

It has been proposed to mount such slabs on a building framework (i.e.steel, girders, beams and columns or on a concreted framework, onreinforced concrete frameworks or on raw masonry or monolithically castwalls) by bolt arrangements anchored to the building structure. Suchsystems have, however, the disadvantage that proper alignment of thefacade slabs is difficult and adjustment of the position of each slab istimeconsuming and laborious.

It has been proposed, moreover, to provide anchors in the supportingstructure and in the facade-forming slab and to interconnect theseanchors by connecting slabs or elements which can be formed on one ofthe anchors and engage the other. For such systems it is also necessaryto provide spacers at the anchoring assembly to properly retain thefacade-forming slab at a given distancefrom the supporting structure. Ingeneral, these prior-art systems have the disadvantages that they allowinsufficient mobility of the facadeforming slab relative to thesupporting structure to accommodate the various degrees of adjustmentwhich are eseential for proper alignment, plumbing and orientation ofthe facade-forming slab.

It also should be noted that conventional anchoring assemblies,attachment systems and mounting arrangements for securing facade-formingslabs to supporting structures have the disadvantage that the assemblyis incapable of withstanding all of the stresses and forces whichdevelop during mounting of the slab and after it has been positioned.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, the principal object of thepresent invention to provide an improved mounting assembly for securinga facade-forming slab to a supporting building structure whereby thedisadvantages of earlier systems can be avoided.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an anchoring system forsecuring a facade plate to the raw or unfinished building structurewhich enables the slab to be emplaced with ease and yet affords thepossibility of adjustment in several directions.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a buildingconstruction system or arrangement of the general character describedwhich, however, is greatly simplified by comparison with earlier systemsand yet allows substantially three degrees of freedom of adjustment ofthe facade-forming slab.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION These objects and others which will becomeapparent hereinafter are attained, in accordance with the presentinvention, with a mounting system for securing a slab, eg afacade-forming or facing plate, to a support (eg the rough or unfinishedbuilding structure), which comprises anchor means on the supportingstructure forming a generally horizontal ledge, a hook-type connectingmember on the slab engageable over this ledge, and a bolt-and-nut anchortying the hook member to the slab. According to an important feature ofthe invention, the mouth of the hook is turned downwardly and the hookhas the configuration of an U, the bight of which receives thenut-and-bolt connection which constitutes a variable-effective-lengthmember between the slab and the ledge.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the connection ofthe hook to the slab via the nut-andbolt connection which permitsdeflection or relative displacement of the hook and the slab in a planeperpendicular to the slab and more or less angularly relative thereto.The deflection preferably has a center located outwardly of the slab andalong the bolt member by means of which the slab is retained at thehook.

The present invention thus provides a device for fastening wall platesor slabs to the external faces of building structures especially for thefastening of the facade slabs to unfinished building faces, whichcomprises an anchor member formed on and secured to the buildingstructure, a connecting member provided with a hook formation engageablewith the fixed anchor member of the building structure, and anadjustable variablelength link between the connecting element and theslab. A spacing element can also be provided between the slab and thesupport structure. The adjusting device may consist of the U-shapedsuspension hook mentioned earlier and a variable length bolt arrangementcooperating with the hook, the hook having downwardly turned shank endsboth of which overhang the ledge or anchor member on the buildingstructure. Rotation of the nut relative to the bolt varies this spacingbetween the slab and the hook while the yieldable or deflectiblecharacter of the bolt permits transverse adjustment.

The connecting member or hook-forming member can be of a number ofdifferent configurations. For example, the shanks of the U may extendperpendicularly to the plane of the slab and to the building structureand can lie in vertical planes, the bight being generally cylindricaland having vertical generatrices. In this case, the bolt may have avertical portion received within the bight and anchored to the hook atthe top thereof via the adjusting nut. The mouth of the hook can beformed by a pair of downwardly turned projections of the shanks.Alternatively, the shanks may lie in vertical planes while the bight issemicylindrical and is defined by straightline generatrices inclined tothe plane of the slab and the building face. In this case, at

least a portion of the length of the bolt externally of the slab issimilarly inclined and received between the shanks of the U. In stillanother construction, the hook may be formed with a web between theshanks through which a bore is formed to accommodate the bolt; in thelatter case, the nut can be accommodated between the shank of the U.

Deflectability of the hook-forming member relative to the slab may beinsured by providing play between the bolt and the hook-forming member,although I prefer to render the free end of the bolt emerging from theslab somewhat deflectible, either by cantilevering this free end so thatit can plastically or elastically deform or by providing an articulationalong the bolt, i.e. be tween its free end and the point at which thebolt is anchored to the slab.

The system described above provides numerous advantages overconventional systems for fastening slabs or fastening plates tobuildings. Firstly, at least three degrees of freedom of adjustment ofthe slab are ensured. In other words, the slab can be adjustedhorizontally with respect to its spacing from the building, can beadjusted vertically with respect to the position of the slab vis-a-visthe supporting ledge, and can be adjusted horizontally parallel to thisledge if the latter extends along the building structure. Thedeflectability of the bolt also permits a somewhat angular adjustment ofthe slab about a horizontal axis. These adjustments are permittedwithout stressing the anchor arrangement. Furthermore, the slab cansimply be lowered until the hook engages the ledge and hence mounting ofthe slab is simplified. The system is also of simple and inexpensiveconstruction and torque and torsional stresses are practically excluded.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects, features andadvantages ofthe present invention will become more readily apparentfrom the following description, reference being made to the accompanyingdrawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side-elevational view of the assembly, according to thepresent invention, showing the slab in its mounted state and with partsthereof in vertical cross section.

FIG. 2 is a detail view, in vertical section, of an anchor mounted uponthe bending structure according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken in the direction of arrow III ofFIG. 1, partly broken away;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the hook member of the system of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing another embodiment.

SPECIFIC DESCRIPTION or otherwise finished. The surface of the roughbuilding structure may be unfinished but is concealed by the facing slab1.

The assembly for suspending the slab 1 from the building structure 2comprises an anchor element 3 which is shown to be formed with avertical flange 3a extending in the horizontal direction and embedded inthe concrete of the building structure. A leg 3b extends forwardly fromthis flange and forms the floor of a horizontally elongated recess 2bformed in face 2a of the building structure 2. The leg 3b, in turn,terminates in an upwardly turned horizontal ledge 15 forming asuspending edge for the hook. At spaced locations, the flange 3a may beprovided with threaded holes 3c into which bolts 3d can be screwed tolock the hook at any selected position of adjustment in the horizontaldirection which is perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1 andthus is parallel to the ledge 15 (see the arrow A in FIG. 3).

The mounting assembly also includes an anchor element 5 embedded in theslab 1 and here shown to be a reinforcing bar or stirrup which has avertical portion 5a parallel to the face la of the slab. The upperportion of the bar 5 is bent rearwardly at 5b at an obtuse angle(preferably between and while an U-shape 4 has its shanks 4a and 4bwelded to this rearwardly bent portion of the anchorage. A hinge member12 has an eye through which the bight 4c of strap 4 is passed so thatpivotal movement of this member 12 about an axis B perpendicular to theplane of the paper if FIG. 1 and parallel to the plane of the paper inFIG. 3, is permitted.

Elements 4 and S serve to anchor to the facadeforming slab 1 andadjusting device represented generally at 6, 7, 8 which supports theslab 1 upon the anchor 3 previously described. This adjustment mechanismcomprises a hook 6 of an U configuration such that a pair of shanks 9are formed in a common plane, i.e. the plane of the axis C (FIG. 1). Thefree ends of the shanks 9 are turned downwardly to form hooks 9a withmouths connected by a web 14 in the form ofa channel adapted to restupon the ledge 15. The bight 11 of the U-shaped hook is formed with anaxially extending bore 10 accommodating the shaft or bolt 7 which, atits free end, threadedly receives an adjusting nut 8. The other end ofthe bolt 7 is secured to the pivot member 12 previously described. Thepivot 12, of course, allows relative angular movement of the slab andthe adjustment structure (arrow D in FIG. 1) while accommodating linearmovement in the horizontal direction perpendicular to the plane of theplate as represented by arrow E. Vertical movement in the direction ofarrow F is likewise accommodated by rotating the nut 8. A spacer devicemay also be provided as shown at 20 if desired. The spacer device ishere a sleeve 21 embedded in the concrete of structure 2 and a threadedstud 22 adjustably received in the sleeve and provided with a prismatichead 23 which can be engaged by a wrench. A pedestal 24 increases thearea of attack of the spacer device upon the slab and thus distributesthe applied force thereon. It should be noted that once the slab issuspended by its hook from the ledge 15, the spacing between it and thebuilding structure can be adjusted via the device 20 whereas the heightof the slab can be established by the variable-length adjusting device7, 8.

The horizontal position of the slab can be established.

by moving the entire suspension system along the ledge 15 as previouslydescribed. It will be apparent that, as

an alternative to the articulation 12, 4, shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, simpledeflectibility of the bolt 7 can be afforded in other ways with similarresults. Some of these variations will be described below.

In the systems of FIGS. 1 and 3, moreover, I provide between the wall ofbore and the bolt 7, some play or clearance to enable the nut 8 to bethreaded onto the bolt to adjust the height. Furthermore, member 12 notonly is able to swing about the axis B but may shift as represented byarrow G (FIG. 3) along the bight 4c of the strap 4 to provide anadditional degree of freedom without releasing the suspension. When theslab is in place, member 12 can be located or welded fixed to member 4or permitted to remain displaceable relative thereto. Member 12 can bepermanently mounted on member 4 or removable therefrom.

In the modification shown in FIG. 2, the ledge 115 is formed by a plate103 bolted at 103a to the face 1021; of the support structure 102. Thebolt 103a may also serve to spead an expansion anchor 103k which isinserted into a hole 102b drilled in the concrete body 102. In thiscase, the shanks 109 and the reinforcing web 114 of the hook-formingmember 106 engage the ledge 115 along the external face fo the buildingstructure. The system is intended to permit mounting of slabs 1 evenwhen a special anchorage has not been provided during the forming of thesupporting structure 102.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show another embodiment of the pres ent invention whereinthe slab 201 is provided with a vertical anchor bar 205 which liesparallel to be exposed face 201a and the concealed face 202a of the slaband the supporting structure respectively. In this embodiment, theadjustment bolt 207 is unthreaded. The hook-forming member 206 has an Uprofile or U- shaped horizontal cross section and comprises acylindrical bight 209a and a pair of vertically extending shanks 209between which the bolt 207 is accommodated. In the region 216 at whichthe bolt emerges from the slab 201, it is elastically deflectible topermit adjustment in the direction of arrow H. The other forms ofadjustment, of course, are identical to those previously described. Inthis case, the nut 208 bears agains the horizontal surfaces 218 at thetop of the U while downwardly turned noses 217 define the hooks at theupper ends of each of the shanks 209. A washer 219 is disposed betweenthe nut and the surfaces 218. In this embodiment, the support structure202 is formed with a channel 202b, the lower edge of which is defined byan overhanging plate 203 secured by anchors 203a in the concrete. Theupper edge 215 of this plate, of course, forms the suspension ledge forthe hook-forming member 206. In the system of FIG. 1, the articulation4, 12 was accommodated in a recess 230 cut out of the rear upper cornerportion of the slab. A similar recess 230 accommodates the suspensiondevice in the embodiment of FIG. 4 and a spacer arrangement 220 isprovided between the slab and the support structure for purposes alreadydescribed. In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, moreover, the surfaces218 lie perpendicularly to the plate 203 and the ledge 215.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the slab 301, which is spacedfrom the building structure 302 by the spacer device 320 as previouslydescribed, is formed with a recess 330 accommodating a hook-formingmember 306. By contrast to the system of FIG. 4, in which the generatrixof the bight of the hook-forming member 206 was vertical and parallel tothe plane of the slab, in the embodiment of FIG. 6, the generatrix ofcylindrical bight 3090 is inclined at an obtuse angle to the plane ofthe slab, the angle having the same range as given above in connectionwith FIG. 1. The shanks 309, however, lie in vertical planes and restagainst the anchor plate 303 which is secured to the support 302 aspreviously described. A ledge 315, over which the hooks 317 extend, haslikewise been described previously. In this embodiment, however, thebolt 307 is bent at an obtuse angle to the anchor 305 and is deflectiblebetween the hook-forming member 306 and the point at which thereinforcing bar 305 emerges from the slab. The nut 308 here bears upon ashaped washer 319 having a concave face 319a cooperating with thecomplementary curved faces 318 of the hook-forming member 306 whichallows relative angular displacement of the bolt and the hook-formingmember in the direction of arrow J. A ball-shaped or spheroidal surfaceor an inclined surface permitting spheroidal surface or an inclinedsurface permitting such movement is preferred.

I claim:

1. An assembly for mounting a plate upon a support structure, comprisinga first anchor member formed on said support structure; a second anchormember formed on said plate; adjustable supension means interconnectingsaid anchor members, said adjustable suspension means including a boltconnected with one of said anchor members and deflectible relativethereto, the other of said anchor members having an upper edge; ahook-forming element of U-shape adjustably receiving said bolt andhaving a pair of shanks formed with hooks resting upon said edgeengaging therebehind; a nut threaded onto said bolt and bearing uponsaid element; and articulating means interposed between said secondmember and said bolt.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1 wherein said support structure is arough building and said plate is a facade-forming slab.

3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said first member is formedwith a horizontal ledge, said hooks engaging over said ledge, said boltemerging from the rear of said slab.

4. The assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said element has a bightinterconnecting said shanks and formed with a bore receiving said boltwith play, said nut being accommodated between said shanks.

5. The assembly defined in claim 3, further comprising a reingorcing webinterconnecting said shanks at said hooks.

6. The assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said bolt extends rearwardlyfrom said slab at an obtuse angle thereto.

7. The assembly defined in claim 3, further compris ing an adjustablespacer interposed between said slab and said structure.

8. An assembly for mounting a plate upon a support structure, comprisinga first anchor member formed on said support structure; a second anchormember formed on said plate; and adjustable suspension meansinterconnecting said anchor members, said adjustable suspension meansincluding a bolt connected with one of said anchor members anddeflectible relative thereto, the other of said anchor members having anupper edge; a hook-forming element of U-shape adjustably receiving saidbolt and having a pair of shanks formed with hooks resting upon saidedge engaging therebehind, and a nut threaded onto said bolt and bearingupon said element, said first member being formed with a horizontalledge, said hooks engaging over said ledge, said bolt emerging from therear of said slab, said element having a bight interconnecting saidshanks and being formed with a bore receiving said bolt with play, saidnut being accommodated between said shanks.

9. The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said sup port structure is arough building and said plate is a facade-forming slab.

10. The assembly defined in claim 9 wherein said bolt and saidstructure.

1. An assembly for mounting a plate upon a support structure, comprisinga first anchor member formed on said support structure; a second anchormember formed on said plate; adjustable supension means interconnectingsaid anchor members, said adjustable suspension means including a boltconnected with one of said anchor members and deflectible relativethereto, the other of said anchor members having an upper edge; ahook-forming element of U-shape adjustably receiving said bolt andhaving a pair of shanks formed with hooks resting upon said edgeengaging therebehind; a nut threaded onto said bolt and bearing uponsaid element; and articulating means interposed between said secondmember and said bolt.
 2. The assembly defined in claim 1 Wherein saidsupport structure is a rough building and said plate is a facade-formingslab.
 3. The assembly defined in claim 2 wherein said first member isformed with a horizontal ledge, said hooks engaging over said ledge,said bolt emerging from the rear of said slab.
 4. The assembly definedin claim 3 wherein said element has a bight interconnecting said shanksand formed with a bore receiving said bolt with play, said nut beingaccommodated between said shanks.
 5. The assembly defined in claim 3,further comprising a reingorcing web interconnecting said shanks at saidhooks.
 6. The assembly defined in claim 3 wherein said bolt extendsrearwardly from said slab at an obtuse angle thereto.
 7. The assemblydefined in claim 3, further comprising an adjustable spacer interposedbetween said slab and said structure.
 8. An assembly for mounting aplate upon a support structure, comprising a first anchor member formedon said support structure; a second anchor member formed on said plate;and adjustable suspension means interconnecting said anchor members,said adjustable suspension means including a bolt connected with one ofsaid anchor members and deflectible relative thereto, the other of saidanchor members having an upper edge; a hook-forming element of U-shapeadjustably receiving said bolt and having a pair of shanks formed withhooks resting upon said edge engaging therebehind, and a nut threadedonto said bolt and bearing upon said element, said first member beingformed with a horizontal ledge, said hooks engaging over said ledge,said bolt emerging from the rear of said slab, said element having abight interconnecting said shanks and being formed with a bore receivingsaid bolt with play, said nut being accommodated between said shanks. 9.The assembly defined in claim 8 wherein said support structure is arough building and said plate is a facade-forming slab.
 10. The assemblydefined in claim 9 wherein said bolt is elastically deflectablyconnected with said second anchor member.
 11. The assembly defined inclaim 9, further comprising a reinforcing web interconnecting saidshanks at said hooks.
 12. The assembly defined in claim 9 wherein saidbolt extends rearwardly from said slab at an obtuse angle thereto. 13.The assembly defined in claim 9, further comprising an adjustable spacerinterposed between said slab and said structure.